Folding bedstead.



No. 741,446. PATENTED OUT. 13, 1903.

. M. BENZ.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.. l

. 7 25 4 'HHHHlIh 0 4:7 0 26 M I J7- 43 ,39 J.9--% 25 6/7 24 42' 21 aW/TNESSES: /NVENTO/? J 20 r if Jfaxfienz i\ E I ATTOHNE rs.

1-1: NORRIS Pawns cu mom-mum, WASHINGTON. u. c.

1510.7415446.v PATENTED 0GT.13,1903.

M. BENZ. FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1903.

2 SHEET$SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

. 5 INVENTOH 33 4% Jfaasfienz A TTORNE Ys m: Nonms PETERS m,PHoTo-Ln-Hu. WASHINGTON, n c,

Patented October 13, 1903.

ATENT Enron.

MAX BENZ, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

SIPIIMJIITICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,446, datedOctober 13, 1903. Application filed March 26, 1908. Serial No. 149,665.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAX BENZ, a citizen of the United States,and aresident of Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee,have invented a new and Improved Folding Bedstead, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to folding bedsteads; and it consists,substantially, in the improvements herein particularly described andclaimed.

The invention has forits principal object to provide a folding bedsteadWhich is readily portable for shipment or storage and one which occupiesbut small space in either position thereof, besides being comparativelylightin weight andcomposed of comparatively few parts of simpleconstruction and organization.

A further object is to provide a bedstead of this character which isboth effective and reliable in use and one which may be readilymanipulated with smallex'ertion on the part of the operator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a folding bedsteadwhich is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and one which may becarried into and out of position for use without noise or friction,besides possessing the capacity for long and repeated service. I

The above and additional objects are attained by means substantiallysuch as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure Iis a view in perspective showing my improved bedstead in its foldedcondi' tion. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof,showing more clearly the position assumed by the several elements ormembers of the bedstead when the latter is folded up. Fig. 3 is asimilar viewto Fig. 2, showing the position assumed by the severalelements or members of the bedstead when the latter is lowered toposition for use; and Fig. 4: is a top plan view, partly in section.

Preliminarily to a more detailed description it may be stated that myimprovements comprise substantially a cabinet of general rectangularstructure, the same having a base of suitable height and being open atthe front and also preferably closed at the back. In teriorly of thiscabinet a stationary head-rest is located, while the bedstead proper isof special construction or embodiment, whereby the same may be loweredinto position for use and again folded into small compass and carried orturned upwardly into the cabinet. The principal part of the movablestructure is received within the cabinet, while the said structure isprovided with a bottom or panel closing the under side thereof, andwhich panel when the movable structure is in its raised or elevatedposition also completely closes the open front of the cabinet, therebyconcealing the presence of the bedstead and imparting to the cabinet theordinary appearance of such articles of furniture. I employ a mainbed-section and an auxiliary or foot section, and I also employ specialmeans for automatically'locking the said main section in the downward orunfolded position thereof,'these locking means having connectionstherefrom to the said auxiliary or foot section, whereby on folding upthe said lattersection the said locking means are released to permit theentire bed structure to be carried to its upward position within thecabinet, all substantially as will be more fully eX- plainedhereinafter.

While I have herein represented a certain preferred embodiment of myimproved folding bedstead it will be understood that I am not limited tothe precise details thereof in practice, since immaterial changestherein may be resorted to coming within the scope of my invention.

Specific reference being had to the accom panying drawings by thedesignating characters marked thereon, 1 represents a stationarystructure approximating an ordinary cabinet in form, the same having abase 2, in which is preferably fitted to slide in and out a drawer 3,said base being of any desired height and having flush with the endsections 4 thereof the side walls 5 5 of the cabinet. The rear side ofthe cabinet may be closed at 6 for practically the full height of thestationary structure, and supported upon the upper edges of the saidside walls 5 5 is a cap or top piece 7, which may be either plain or ofany desired ornamentation.

ICO

Secured in any suitable manner to the inner surface of the back 6 of thecabinet (or at the head end of the bed)as by screws 8, for instance-is astationary frame 9, having at each end thereof a forwardly-projectingbranch 10, the said frame being preferably (though not essentially)employed, by which properinclination or elevation may be given to thepillows of the bed; but the said branches 10 of this frame are for aspecial purpose, as presently explained.

The foldable structure of the bedstead consists of a main sectionconstructed of duplicate parallel side rails 11 11, to the edges 12 ofwhich is secured a panel 13, which when the said foldable structure isin its elevated position within the cabinet serves to completely closethe open front 14 of said cabinet, (see Fig. 2,) the side edges 15 ofsaid panel (in the closed position of the bed) being flush with theouter surfaces of the said side sections 5 of the cabinet, as shown,said panel being hinged at 15 to the upper edge of the front 15 of thebase above the drawer 3. Hinged to the outer ends of said side rails 11,at 16, are the shorter parallel side rails 17 of the auxiliary orfootsection of the bedstead, the outer ends of said shorter rails beingconnected by a brace 18, and also connecting these rails is anadditional strengtheningbrace 19.

The upper part of the base 2 of the cabinet is closed by a top piecetherefor, (indicated at 20,) thus preventing any portion of the mattressor bedclothes from protruding withinsaid base or the drawer therein, andeX- tending between the members 10 of the frame 9 and beneath said frameis a rigid cross strip or bar 21, to which the supporting-wires of anordinary Wire mattress 22 are connected at one end, the other end ofsuch mattress being likewise connected to another cross strip or bar23,'the ends of which are held or supported between the upper and lowersides of notches 24, formed in supporting-brackets 25, attached orsecured to the inner sides of the shorter side rails 17 of the saidfoot-section of the bedstead.

Hinged at 26 to the free longitudinal edge 27 of the panel 12 is a strip28, formed at each end thereof with a supporting-leg 29 for the outerpart of the structure when the latter is turned down or unfolded foruse, said strip being so hinged as to be capable of being turnedflatwise against the outerside of said panel when the latter is in itsupright position. (See Fig. 1.)

The inner end of each of the main side rails 11 is notched on its upperedge to form a shoulder 30, and said ends are free to work vertically inthe spaces between the adjacent surfaces of each of the side sections 5of the cabinet and the corresponding branch 10 of the stationary frame9, and it will be observed that the said inner surfaces of the said sidesections 5 are each formed with a vertical groove 31, in which works averticallyslidable weight 32, the sides of said groove each beingundercut to receive corresponding vertical flanges 33 on said weights.The said weights 32 are each preferably slotted or recessed at 34 forthe reception of blocks or other media (not shown) to lend additionalweight thereto, if desired, and movably con necting the lower end ofeach weight with the outer side of the adjacent notched end of thecorresponding main side rail 11 is a link 35. (See more especially Figs.2 and 3.)

Pivotally mounted at 36 on the outer side of each branch 10 of the frame9 is a dog or detent 37, which is normally acted upon by a spring 38 tobe depressed at the headed end thereof, and when the main section of thebedstead is lowered for use the said headed ends of these dogs ordetents engage the shoulders 30 of the rails 11, so that it ispractically impossible to again lift or raise the said section untilsuch engagement is released. For this latter purpose any suitable meansmay be employedsuch, for instance, as a cord or wire 39, connected atone end to the tailpiece 40 of each detent or dog, thence passed througheyes or guides 41 and 42, secured to the top piece 20 of the base andthe inner surface of the corresponding side rail 11, respectively,whence said cord or wire is passed through another eye or guide 43, alsosimilarly secured to the side rail 11, and finally secured at its otherend to a suitable eye or other means 44 therefor fastened to orprojecting from the inner side of the corresponding side rail 17 of thehinged foot-section of the bedstead. In this way it will be seen that ata given point (greatest radius) in the arc of the circle described bythe said eyes 44- on folding the hinged foot-section upwardly the saidcords or wires will be drawn upon in a manner to release the said dogsor detents 37 from engagement with the said shoulders 30, whereupon theentire foldable structure may be carried to the position shown in Figs.1 and 2. When in its closed position, the said foldable structure willbe held thereto either of its own weight or by means of the slidableweights 32, as is apparent, although I may employ a suitable lockingdevice (not shown) for this purpose,

if so desired. Said weights assist in both the folding and unfoldingmovements necessary to be imparted to the structure, as is apparent, andit is also apparent that on lowering the said structure the shoulders 30will ride the under surfaces of the headed ends of the dogs or detents,thereby elevating such ends sufficiently to allow said shoulders topass, whereupon the springs will again react to force the dogs ordetents in engagement with the shoulders in the manner alreadyexplained.

For the purpose of engaging the connecting-strip 28 for the legs 29 whenthe bedstead is turned down or unfolded I prefer ably employ pivotedhooked pawls 47, mounted on the inner faces of the side rails 11, saidpawls readily yielding to enable said strip and legs to be turnedagainst the sides of the said panel 13, as also shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As before stated, I am not limited in practice to the specificconstruction and organization of elements herein specifically described.

If desired, the spaces in which the weights work may be closed by acover or panel, as is apparent, thereby concealing the weights from viewwhen the bed is lowered into position for use, and it will he understoodthat to pack the bed for shipment or transportation the frame 9, theback 6, the mattress, and the top piece 7 are separated and the back 6lifted out, and these parts may be so laid together as to occupy but asmall space.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A folding bedstead comprising a cabinet having ahinged panel for closing the front of the same, a frame secured to theback of said cabinet within, having forwardly-projecting branches at theends thereof, a spring-pressed dog pivoted to the outer side of each ofsuch branches, and parallel side rails having supports for the outerends thereof when lowered, said rails being formed at the inner endsthereof with shoulders which are automatically engaged by said dogs tosecure the rails in their lowered position.

2. A folding bedstead comprising a cabinet having a hinged panel forclosing the front of the same, a frame secured to the inner side of theback of said cabinet, having forwardlyprojecting branches at the endsthereof, a spring-pressed dog pivoted to the outer side of each of suchbranches, parallel side rails, having supports for the outer endsthereof when lowered to substantially horizontal position, said railsbeing formed at the inner ends thereof with notches and shoulders, thelatter being automatically engaged by said dogs to secure the rails intheir lowered position, and means for automatically releasing suchengagement on again elevating the side of the back of said cabinet,having forwardlyprojecting branches at the ends thereof, aspring-pressed dog pivoted to the outer side of each of such branches,parallel side rails provided with a foldable foot-section for supportingthe outer ends thereof when lowered to substantially horizontalposition, said rails being formed at the inner ends thereof withshoulders which are automatically engaged by said dogs to secure therails in their lowered position, vertically-slidable weights cooperatingwith the rear ends of said side rails, and cords connected at one oftheir ends to said dogs, thence extending alongside the side rails andconnected at the other ends thereof to said foot-section.

4. A folding bedstead comprising a cabinet having a panel for closingthe front of the same, a frame secured to the inner side of the back ofsaid cabinet, having forwardly-projecting branches at the ends thereof,parallel side rails having a foldable foot-section for supporting theouter ends thereof when lowered to substantially horizontal position,devices on said branches engaging with the inner ends of said side railsto secure the latter in their lowered position, and means forautomatically releasing such engagement on raising the side rails tovertical position within the cabinet, said means being constituted ofcords connected at one of their ends to said devices, thence extendingalongside said side rails and secured at their other ends to the saidfoldable foot-section.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAX BENZ.

Witnesses:

M. (l. JENSEN, MAX. BENZ, Jr.

